The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Central Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the sharp increase in the nomination fee for State Bar Council elections from ₹25,000 to ₹1.25 lakh.
The matter was heard by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who directed both the BCI and the Centre to file their responses before the next hearing scheduled in December.
The petition filed by Advocate Pramod Kumar Singh contends that the BCI Nomination Fee Hike is arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution. The plea asserts that such a steep fee increase curtails the democratic participation of genuine and experienced advocates, effectively reserving the election field for candidates with strong financial backing.
The petitioner further argued that the BCI’s justification, citing a shortfall in election management funds due to the recent reduction in advocate enrollment fees from ₹16,000 to ₹600, cannot be used to burden candidates contesting the election.
“The increase of nomination fee is against the democratic fabric and promotes money and muscle power, discouraging meritorious advocates from contesting,”
the plea stated.
The Bench took note of these contentions and sought replies from the respondents, setting the matter for further hearing in December 2025.
Case Details
- Case Title: Pramod Kumar Singh v. Bar Council of India & Ors
- Bench: Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela
- Petitioner: Advocate Pramod Kumar Singh
- Respondents: Bar Council of India and Union of India
- Next Hearing: December 2025
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